Wichita eagle., 1887-05-25
THE RAT CATCHER.
HIS PROFESSION CONNECTED WITH
POLITICAL ECONOMY.

Rats Form One Of the Crtminal Claassa,
and Ought to BE Hunted Down -
Sach-work Done on Contrsct-Dexs
and Ferreta
SThey aren't taken into consideration by
the census, they don't pay taxes and they
aren't mentioned in the city directory, but
they are big population As the man said
this he threw his net over his shoulder, set
tied his box on his beck, and called his dogs
"Ratsl Yes, rats That's what I'm talking
of. Generally speaking, I'm the rat man.
Not that rats are particularly fond of me, for
they amt, but my business tends in that
line live ON rats. WHAT No l don't eat
the varmintsl Do | look like a Cclestiall I
live on rats, and the rats live ON the city. In
other words. Tn rat detective. For that
matter, Tn somewhat OF scientist, too;
study the habits of these little critters
That is, YOU are professional rat
catcherf suggested the reporter
well, yes; to put IL ia that way. I'm the
rat man With these dogs and these ferrets,
with the help of the net 10 keep them from
getting away, / endeavor TO clear the city Of
that part of the population which is least con-
sidered by political economists, They form
one of the criminal classes, and " criminals
hunt them They are q consuming class. do
ing their part To dispose Of the overproduc-
ton; Us such l study their habits They are
producing class, too. 10 the extent Of giving
employment to me and these little critters.
and as such have the highes; regard for rats
II the government knew their Importance
congress would probably create department
Of rats; but they should at all events have .
bureau of rats in the department of agrieul-
ture. Maybe You never Thought II IL, but the
rat is an indirect tax which rlay 40 far
toward reducing the surplus, and should be
taken into consideration in the revision Of the
tariff am getting up some STATISTICS on
rats, which | may make public some day, 10
the confusion of political economists and the
general well being of mankind.
Now, il YOU want your house cleared,
here's your chance I'll make contract TO
clean every rat bole out in four hours FOR $40
That is, if the house is not too big. Ny rate
is $40 day and upward"
How do Won propose 10 do itr' asked the
reporter
DOGS AND EERRrTs.
"You see these ferretsf have thirty or
more of ihem-no, not all here. have three
dogs: you see 'em--and these nets and myself
That's what it takes To clean n city of rats
That and the money to pay me- As he spoke
he shook the net over his arm and pointed To
the dogs which stood by his side all chained
together That's rabbit bea lie, that half
and half, and the other n SKYE terrier They
know each other-these dogs and the ferrets
They never interfere with each other The
ferrets go into the holes % drive the rats out
and the dogs kill the varmints as they come
out. We killed seventeen rats in two hours
the other day, and not long ago we killed
thirty eight in four hours inject N-o-ooi
We don't meddle with mice. They're great
big rats Genuine big ones
"Wbere do you work. asked the reporter,
settling himself down 10 encourage the philo-
sophical rat catcher 10 further conversation.
Every where" the sweeping reply
I'VE don't stay in one place very long You
See he added with wink. "the rats get
scarce after have been ia a place for
a while. We go from town to town and city
TO city, STAYING just long enough 10 kill all
the rats-or at least all the people will pay
Tor. We work in private houses. livery sta
bles theatres churches. wharves and hotels
and mills, particularly nills-iour mills. |
cleared the National tbeater no. long ago. and
lost ferret by it, too. The little cri,ter wen.
through into the next house and the cook cut
its head of and skinned II"
The rat catcher stopped here % explain his
opinion OF cooks in general and THIS cook Ia
and then contiureti Il make con-
tracts with hotels, feed stores and such like
big establishments In fact, ! do mtst II nay
work by contract. Sometimes | get the worst
Of it. | made one contract % clear a house.
and as fast rs | killed them moro came I
thought ! would never get 10 the end Of
them. Finally | lost ore Of NV ferresz and
" hen found hin. he was In a hou~e a; the
other end OF tbs square They had bs-en .iriy-
ing the rats down from every house in the
block, AMI I'd been doing IL ali for one job.-
PROFITABLE Profession.
%Do you and il profitable professional
" a. asked
"Bsrrin' the cooks that kill the ferrets and
the imposition II the resky rats having the
run Of "a wboie block. Il pays pretty well.
Its $40 a dry. aid ssslnstirnes all can DO.
The ferrets are uorth SIS pair when they
are worth anything. AMI when they're like
.hese-well trained-thsy can't be had sor
eSs than 81 can't sffor'i 10 have blood
thirsty cooks skin en-
reporter.
$40; they can't do 10. They run o. brssk
heir necks when they smell one Il the little
-T1tters II the rat shows fight al al ,hs ferret
,oes zipp and this rat. done for: biz issa1i'.
rone and bis blood sucked Rat will do
'unny thing 70 get AWAY be coastirlrled I
-Oae day drove ran oalt - a cellar we sersi
suntin' aai sse co8ldu's fnd them until rsJ
!uz them oit Of q sand pile. ws,er. they had
I'D -seven;eeB - EN- You 80 the dog. tel
Is where the are; then He spread the lssts 70
1reFeut t3ern running toD far. and f5gt the
eTreis In oa them. ThsB there IL q scansper.
IS hen many come out at orr tire IL Il lively
or shile
I've had % do with rats for a iosg tam.
'oz, - Continued, ~atd have 90 ~ know
hem prstty vel They're ar interesting
arniiy. from the mliier's rat viii lsDN,isr-i
lasr. who s8fs Ike a judge on. n.e4l sack,
. the pisatlrai wharf Faf, fasnosls for hss rsk-
shne>s and has iTnff-fzss size. he sliagy
ever IA. that lives GA The re.B-s II TIE city.
This Ia. feilos Is The ouly oze oossai ever
re nigh: ~ Il sDsae yrric- lie may work
or hi beard =eAysngsr. AZ ali sysn.x,
,e 3a1't eat anything thai asyiesiy el-a
~sn;s The church uSo1ss n rated a. .hs
ne. starved osTf yarHlint ia the world. Ia, I
,evsT cszIsd ~ shat ;bes;fe "a; ~ % sas
BIZ. IonE. isnk fellows yak at>oSs; ts.s s.a2z
!; uish;, Ike HAlEIes's gh6.t--or ~io~ssr Dc
sas--sfd ] dOsa't What they live "a. un-
~ 10 IA tbs BlssSse. They say rzts llks
TIsrsse. - IS aSainssoa Star
A. the Reporters Sew Him
A fss.erS~z fnsy Hf-f 49, g. -
ss-oss - be tesserably familiar yF1-~sy- n